From February 5th to 7th, ETHS’ frosh/soph ensemble brought the play “Women” to the Little Theater. Inspired by the well known 1868 novel and later turned film “Little Women,” “Women” offers a more contemporary, playful, and inclusive portrayal of life during the civil war in the 1800s, while still staying loyal to original themes and plot points originally ideated by Louisa May Alcott.
Being a part of the frosh/soph play at ETHS is unique- rather than being overwhelmingly prestigious, it gives freshman and sophomore students the opportunity to be a part of theater, even if they have little to no experience. However, there are still students involved who do have a lot of theater experience.
“The freshman sophomore play is less of a production for an audience and more of a teaching time for students who want to get involved in theater in high school, ” noted Ari Adams, a sophomore and the assistant director.
Despite being the same age as some of the actors, Adams was able to take on the role of assistant director, doing more organizational work, like helping out with lines, contacting cast members and being “another pair of eyes for the show.”
Through this role, Adams was able to see the dynamics of the cast members, and how they worked together over the period of time filled with rehearsals. “The one thing I really enjoy witnessing is how well they all get along, even though they all come from very different places in the school and different vibes,” said Adams.
The chemistry that Adams describes the cast has working together is palpable on stage. “Women” was a show filled with banter, wit and jokes that never went unnoticed. The audience was consistently engaged, applauding after every scene and laughing at every joke. The Little Theater served as a smaller venue compared to the Upstairs Theater or Auditorium, making the overall experience feel more cozy and intimate. “Women” did a great job of having fast-paced scenes that kept the audience interested, without ever feeling rushed.
“This play is one of the funniest shows I’ve ever read. It is very amusing. There’s lots of jokes in there, a lot of modern day vernacular that is very funny,” mentioned Adams.
As an audience member who went in not knowing much about it, I can say that I did not realize how big a role comedy would have in this play. Something I especially appreciated was that the humor felt very intentional and clever. The jokes were weaved in naturally and there was a lot of really well done banter. Many of the serious themes from “Little Women” are taken more lightly, like Beth’s sickness and Laurie’s failed attempt at romance with Jo. For example, at one point in the show, as Beth March lays sick and hopeless on a couch, not far from death, her sister Meg asks for her “ETA,” which makes the scenes with Beth feel playful, rather than dark and tragic. Additionally, Laurie’s love confession to Jo did not mirror that of Timothee Chalamet’s in the 2019 production of “Little Women,” but rather that of a modern young man, as he ends the awkward conversation by saying “Laurie out.”
Harper Levander, sophomore, who plays Jo, described “Women” as “kind of a queer coming out story in a way, but not completely.”
“Women” modernizes “Little Women” in several ways, but one prominent way it does so is in its incorporation of LGBTQ+ representations. In “Little Women,” main character Jo always feels less traditionally feminine than the other women of her time, as she is very ambitious about becoming a writer, and doesn’t prioritize marriage, which was uncommon in the 1800s. In “Women,” Jo is also portrayed as an ambitious young woman, however she often refers to herself as a guy, which her family brushes past and is humorously oblivious to. Furthermore, Jo ends up in a romantic relationship with a woman she meets on her endeavor to New York, so in the end, Jo gets to find love authentically and have a happy ending.
All in all, the frosh/soph cast and crew did a lovely job with “Women.” They put together a wonderful show, filled with laughter, creativity and great, expressive acting. The cast worked together beautifully and appeared to have a really good connection. “Women” was a pleasure to watch and showcased the hard work and passion of the frosh/soph cast and crew.
